The Mind of the Child

In the 1840s, novelists like Brontë and Dickens began examining children's inner lives alongside emerging psychiatric studies, prompting a detailed exploration of childhood fears, fantasies, and the relationship with animals in The Mind of the Child.

The Mind of the Child by Sally Shuttleworth delves into the evolving understanding of childhood during the 1840s, a pivotal time when writers like Brontë and Dickens began to illuminate the inner lives of children. This period also marked the emergence of early psychiatric studies focused on childhood, creating a unique intersection between literature and science. Shuttleworth examines essential themes such as childhood fears, imaginary realms, and the complexities of child sexuality, while also considering the child's relationship with animals. This exploration raises intriguing questions about the distinctions between lies and fantasies in the context of a child's perspective.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of various literary works, including those by Dickens, Meredith, James, and Hardy, providing insights into the historical context of child psychology and psychiatry. Shuttleworth's interdisciplinary approach allows for a deeper understanding of how the inner world of children became a focal point for both literary and medical discourse. The initial chapters address topics like fears and night terrors, as well as the concept of the precocious child, while later discussions transition to adolescence and the nuanced relationship between children and animals.

Shuttleworth highlights the parallels between Victorian childhood issues and contemporary concerns, such as the pressures of academic performance and the challenges of adolescence, including the troubling topic of child suicide. By tracing the development of the Child Study Movement in the 1890s, The Mind of the Child underscores the significance of childhood as a crucial element in understanding the adult mind, revealing how much of our current discourse on childhood has roots in this earlier era.